GDA or ECNL?

[Unregistered]

all these sub rule debates revolve around giving marginal players more time. the real issue is why are marginal players playing in so called elite leagues to begin with ? Largely because parents dont know any better

Yup. Clubs know parents haven't a clue and think their kids are better than they are. But no one should be fooled by a club that carries a roster bigger than 20 from U15+ (18 better). If you sign a weaker player up for a team carrying more than that you get what you deserve. It also revs up parental angst and makes for an unpleasant experience

[Unregistered]

In fairness to the coaches? spare me. If the players on the team know the pecking order, and they do for the most part, what is the coaches excuse?

Lol. Put a competent mature player in charge then if you cant evaluate a player properly.

^^^Agreed. Coaches either know talent or they do not. Furthermore, they should be able to arrange tryouts to get a good look at each kid in game situations to determine if they are capable of being quality gamers or just amazing practice players that dominate any cones you can throw at them!

[Unregistered]

Or largely because soccer is, first and foremost, a business ... and this includes DA. It is largely because clubs need checks, not because of parents. Any club with integrity bent on developing all of its players would set a minimum standard for level of play for any player and not start by saying we need 22 on the roster to make this work. Similarly, USSF should have reinforced this at the club and coach levels when it started GDA by not allowing in 80 clubs most of whom were never ever considered elite.

Funny. Over on a thread in the other board the complaint is that soccer is only for the rich, because the logistics of getting to a club is too burdensome for too many.

Can't have it both ways: Can't say there are too many clubs on one hand, then say it's too difficult to reach the clubs (and if there were less, it would be even harder) on the other hand.

Where USSF failed was thinking more of the better clubs would want to follow them vs. where they were at. So, now they are backfilling.

[Unregistered]

all these sub rule debates revolve around giving marginal players more time. the real issue is why are marginal players playing in so called elite leagues to begin with ? Largely because parents dont know any better

Because they are customers in a multi billion dollar youth sports business.

If you think you can make a killing running a 4 on 4 league for all the superstars go ahead. Good luck.

You will find out that money and talent are not linked and if you want to run a successful business, you need to find customers that can pay and play not just play.

[Unregistered]

Or largely because soccer is, first and foremost, a business ... and this includes DA. It is largely because clubs need checks, not because of parents. Any club with integrity bent on developing all of its players would set a minimum standard for level of play for any player and not start by saying we need 22 on the roster to make this work. Similarly, USSF should have reinforced this at the club and coach levels when it started GDA by not allowing in 80 clubs most of whom were never ever considered elite.

it could still be a business. the two are not mutually exclusive.

[Unregistered]

Funny. Over on a thread in the other board the complaint is that soccer is only for the rich, because the logistics of getting to a club is too burdensome for too many.

Can't have it both ways: Can't say there are too many clubs on one hand, then say it's too difficult to reach the clubs (and if there were less, it would be even harder) on the other hand.

Where USSF failed was thinking more of the better clubs would want to follow them vs. where they were at. So, now they are backfilling.

you are missing the point. accessing the game should be easy. accessing Elite level teams should be dictated by talent. it isnt. Sub rules are a non issue if the players are talented.

[Unregistered]

Because they are customers in a multi billion dollar youth sports business.

If you think you can make a killing running a 4 on 4 league for all the superstars go ahead. Good luck.

You will find out that money and talent are not linked and if you want to run a successful business, you need to find customers that can pay and play not just play.

another poster who misses the point. im not stopping anyone building a business in soccer. I have zero sympathy or time for those debating sub rules in the context of leagues that call themselves elite.

there are 2 very different things. ive been very clear, these leagues are not talent based

[Unregistered]

you are missing the point. accessing the game should be easy. accessing Elite level teams should be dictated by talent. it isnt. Sub rules are a non issue if the players are talented.

Why should accessing elite teams be dictated by talent? What magic soccer fairy would pay for that? Love it or hate it , youth soccer is pay to play unless you can get all the coaches and refs and fields, and hotels, and gas, and plane tickets, and rental cars, etc etc for free.

[Unregistered]

Why should accessing elite teams be dictated by talent? What magic soccer fairy would pay for that? Love it or hate it , youth soccer is pay to play unless you can get all the coaches and refs and fields, and hotels, and gas, and plane tickets, and rental cars, etc etc for free.

you are stuck in the present. with a homegrown rule, it changes

[Unregistered]

Why should accessing elite teams be dictated by talent?

Wait...what?

Are you saying accessing elite teams shouldn't be dictated by talent? Seriously?

That is the #1 problem right there. Doesn't matter what league you are in, but no....absolutely not...Elite teams should ONLY be dictated by talent.

[Unregistered]

Wait...what?

Are you saying accessing elite teams shouldn't be dictated by talent? Seriously?

That is the #1 problem right there. Doesn't matter what league you are in, but no....absolutely not...Elite teams should ONLY be dictated by talent.

thank you. we agree. the ONLY way to change this is to allow pro teams to develop their own talent at their own cost. Players can choose to be part of that or not. Needs to be a HG rule for that to happen. Moultrie situation may force that.

[Unregistered]

Wait...what?

Are you saying accessing elite teams shouldn't be dictated by talent? Seriously?

That is the #1 problem right there. Doesn't matter what league you are in, but no....absolutely not...Elite teams should ONLY be dictated by talent.

yes. Seriously. Why?

If this really were so important and critical then it would happen. It does not happen and yet life goes on just fine.

You just dont like that athletic talent is exposed as maybe not as high in the pecking order of importance and society sometimes makes it out to be.

If being an uber elite soccer athlete were as valuable as you are claiming, then guess what - it would be found and valued. Truth is - it is only valuable if it comes along with a decent bank account. Sorry if the truth hurts.

[Unregistered]

yes. Seriously. Why?

If this really were so important and critical then it would happen. It does not happen and yet life goes on just fine.

You just dont like that athletic talent is exposed as maybe not as high in the pecking order of importance and society sometimes makes it out to be.

If being an uber elite soccer athlete were as valuable as you are claiming, then guess what - it would be found and valued. Truth is - it is only valuable if it comes along with a decent bank account. Sorry if the truth hurts.

So, everyone gets a ribbon? Everyone is in the Honor Society, even if they aren't elite? Everyone gets training at Juliard, even if they aren't elite?


Hooolyyyyy shlt.

[Unregistered]

yes. Seriously. Why?

If this really were so important and critical then it would happen. It does not happen and yet life goes on just fine.

You just dont like that athletic talent is exposed as maybe not as high in the pecking order of importance and society sometimes makes it out to be.

If being an uber elite soccer athlete were as valuable as you are claiming, then guess what - it would be found and valued. Truth is - it is only valuable if it comes along with a decent bank account. Sorry if the truth hurts.

you are confusing many different things. It is valued. the top kids are getting college educations valued at 300k+ Even with that, i dont see anyone claiming its valuable. I see people saying that elite should mean elite. i see people saying that talent should be the determining factor in elite teams.

Hypothetical - if i created a national league where every club could enter one team irrespective of age, and keep all the other teams intact. ignore travel etc for now. do you think that parents would opt out of the game if their kid did not make the top team? At what age do you think they would quit if they didnt make it? Do you think every club would enter a team ?

now in theory, that top team would be talent based and clubs would have a greater incentive to show that they could develop players.

[Unregistered]

So, everyone gets a ribbon? Everyone is in the Honor Society, even if they aren't elite? Everyone gets training at Juliard, even if they aren't elite?


Hooolyyyyy shlt.

If you are a male soccer talent in Europe - you will be found and developed because someone can make money off you.

If you can develop a drug that clears up psoriasis - you will be found and compensated because someone will make zillions off of you.

etc. etc.

Female soccer talent has some financial value but not that much. The lions share of the value is in the money that the parents pay for the activity. By far.